String-tuning device



.i. BERNARDlN! FRING TUNING DEVICE 11% April 5 1925 Patented May 24, 192?,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN BERNAB-DINI, 01F GINGINNAJII, OHIO.

STRING TUNING DEVICE.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the genera. clas of stringed musical instruments which employ string tensioning devices consisting; of peas of hard wood or similar material which are mounted frictionally for rotation in holes suitably located in the head of the instrument.

An object of my invention is to produce an instrument having a string securing and tensioning mechanism of improved construction. in which greater ease and security of fastening; the strings to the frictionally held rotatably mounted string tensioning" pegs is secured. and in which improved mechanism is 'n'ovided for obtaining minute adjustment of the string tension in order to secure extreme accuracy of tone pitch tuning of each string.

These and other objects are attained in the device described in the following speci 'lication and illustrated in the accompanying' drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stringed instrument of the violin type, to which my invention is particularly adaptable.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of the mechanism by means of which I am enabled to obtain finer adjustment of the tension of each string than could be obtained with the rotatable pegadjustment of the usual instrument.

Fig. 3 is another view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 showing the details thereof.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged view of an improved string tensioning peg forming a feature of my invention.

I have shown a musical instrument of the type to which my invention is adaptable. This general class of instrument depends upon string tensioningthrough frictionally mounted pegs located in the head 6 which surmounts the neck 7 upon which the linger board 8 is located. At the opposite end of the body 9 the tail piece or tongue 10 is mounted in the usual manner. while attached to the tail piece are the strings 11 which lead to the tensioning pegs 5 over the bridge 12.

ldy invention concerns two portions of the instrument, which refer to the strings and relate particularly to the opposite ends thereof. The pegs 5 will be described first, inasmuch as they constitute one of the features of novelty of my invention. Usually pegs for this purpose are merely somewhat conical plugs of wood through which the Serial rm. some.

ends of the strings are passed. after which the plugs are rotated to wind .up the slack of the strings and to give proper tension thereto. However. in my in'iproved winding and tensioning peg or l e'y..one of the .objec tions of the usual pen is overcome. The objection to which I refer is that the string, when placed in the hole through the peg, frezpicntly has a tendency to slip out of the hole when tension has been placed upon it. in my improved construction I have employed a sin'iple expedient for overcoming this objection. This I have shown in Fig. i. in the tapered plug portion 13 of the peg; l ha e formed a suitably shaped recess 14-. From the bottom of this recess through the opposite side of the plug 1 form an aperture 15 through which the string may be passed. On the sides of the aperture and occupyingthe recess I locate dogs 16 and 17 which are pivotally mounted at their outer ends 18 and 19. The inner ends of the does. when the string is passed through into the aperture 15 from its recess end, will move back and away from one another, while, when any slight withdrawing movement of the string takes place. they will grip the string positively against inadvertent withdrawal as tension is placed upon it during: the winding movement. Thus I have provided a simple but very etfective positive means of securing the string to the plug.

In the second feature of novelty of my improved construction the aim has been to overcome the difficulty encountered in the tuning: of stringed instruments by means of the usual friction plug or windingpeg. Frequently it is next to lHlPOSSlblB to secure extremely accurate tuning by means of the comparatively crude manner of obtaining; the correct pitch through the use of the frictionally mounted rotatable plug. This is because of the relative impossibility of obtaining correct minute adjustments of the pegs to different portions of their revolution in securing: the desired string tension. in order to overcome this difliculty I have chosen to go to the opposite extreme ends of the strings and to provide means as a part of the tail piece 10 whereby the desired minute adjustment of the pitch may be ob taincd. On the tail piece I provide an angle plate 20 which has a downwardly ex tending: portion carrying a series of rotatively mounted nuts 21. see Figs. 2 and 3. These nuts are internally threaded to receive the externally threaded sleeves or piece and contain the strings 11. Each thimble has a closed end having an aperture therethrough to receive the end of its contained string and the string in turn is secured against displacement by tying a knot 23 therein as shown. Lugs 24 are provided on eachthimble adjacent to its closed end. for cooperation with a plate 25 which is secured at intervals to the downward portion of the plate 20. These lugs, bearing against the plate,1..prevent the thimbles from rotating when the nuts 21 are rotated. Rotation of the nuts is effected by manual adjustment thereof, knurled flanges 26 being provided thereon so that they may be easily rotated by means of the fingers.

In this manner rapid, easy and minute adjustment, as though by a micrometer, is

obtained upon each string, thus enabling a musician to tune his instrument Very accurately.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is In a stringed instrument a string tensioning device therefor, consisting of a relatively stationary plate, a series of internally screw threaded nuts rotatively mounted in the plate and arrangedtor manual rotation. a string attaching; externally screw threaded non-revolvable thimblc mounted in each 01 the nuts and a second plate attached to the, first mentioned plate for cooperation with non-revolvable thimbles when the nuts are rotated whereby longitudinal reciprocation of the tlllll'lblQS is secured.

In witness whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN BERNARDINI.

Ex le 

